New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-26
NEW VOLUMES OF VERSES.

DREAMS TO SELL By MAY KENDALt~ l0mo' pP. "
800 Lougmsns. Green Co.
LYRICS AND sONNErs. ny EDITH VI lnoNAs' Iomo'
PIP. 1876. HOughtoD Mi!hh x CO.
soNNETs OF LOVE AND LIFE. Writ;ea by LDW arp
WELLS, dr. shd HhNki H'"A'O DAD ~
erok L. stokes = Brother $40,
II was the unusual fortune of the late MI Si'I
70 earn recognition as poet before ne lh'uS' ''''
time ripe 10 ak for it, The Introductory Lo'e -
this pretty volume tells Us that the puonsheiS
were sufi icntly impressed with tie quaIN u
his recent contributions 70 the magazines 10 ui-e
linn TO make a collection, which, after some carry
trials be WIS in 10 hurry TO do while lac ict tn''
his rovyers were growing. His poetry is very
strongly distinguished from that OF the genera"
choir. On occasion he IS 10 less sensitive TO
external nature than the most pastoral oil the ahu
scape school and no less dainty inexprcssion than
,be poets Of bric-a-br bat back Of all elegant
accom-. ,hnents and throwing them into the
shadow he has a serious aspiring thought, "hlrh
sivos his verse gravity anl frequent iotinesS. IL
secms 10 Us that in the longer pieces OF this COL
lection, The Venus of Milo" and Field NoiNs
ne left some beautiful writing without BEING quite
sure of his purpose and it may have been con-
seriousness that he had not yet secured hrn grasp
Of large problems that made him hesitate to luO-
lish q second volume; he had Nentuled upon ono
little book twenty years ago which is not no" IT,
,nembercd. The short poems fall as II instinct
lively into the form OF revery, and in their gentle
solennity the authors meditative. trusting uh-
complaining spirit finds an appropriate voice Inc
following notable lines from piece entitled
"Retrospect7
And we have stood and watched, all wstiully,
While Nuttcring hopes have died out OF our HNes'
As one who FOL lows with IA strainlng eye
A bird that far, far off fades III the sky go
little rocking speck-now lost; and still he
strives
Amomcnt 10 recover tin vain;
Then slowly turns back 70 hs WORK agan
But loves and hopes have left us in their place
Thank God. a gentle grace,
A pstence, a belief in His good time, "
Worth more than all earth's joys to winch VIC
climb.
Here is beautiful, finely poetical image
clothed in language which would be almost iaut
less but for tie imping last line. We cite 'he
passage however, not only on account Of us IN
frinsic merit, but because its conclusion exhibits
the most persistent sentiment Of Mr. SITS poetry
gentle grace, patience and belief in Gods good
time.
MANY Of the verses in Miss Kcndalrs neat vol
ume are in the humorous vein, some OF them nav
ing decorated the pages Of "Punch," and the
author does well 10 put her mrthful efforts IN the
foreground, for they constitute her best work
Modern science is a favorite subject for her Jcst
Zone of the exercises are droll; nearly all were
orobably effective in the periodicals which orgi-
nally printed them but the wit like the poetry IL
almost too mild TO keep. Still one may pass an
hour pleasantly enough with Dreams 70 Sell"
The pretty book in which Miss Thomas he's col
lected her latest poems seems just suited for pieces
which with hardly an exception, are dlsih-
guishcd for grace daintincSs and CONSCIENTIOUS
art. Her opening lines, The Breathing Earth"
are an excellent example both Of her CHARACTERISTIC
vein Of thought and Of the polish Of her style She
is a member OF that large American choir which
is never weary OF singing OF the woods ana the
waters, TIC birds and the flowers, the winds ana
the seasons; but her voice has clear ring above
the music Of the rest Of the band. She - not sat
istied with description however just and delicate,
but almost always in her pictures Of external ma
ture there is something poetically fancful or
spiritually suggestive.
Fourteen sonncts daintily printed in violet ink
on fine white paper appear in Sonnets of Love
and Idc" These are divided, fancifuily, into
octave and sextet The verses are decidedly
pretty breathe true roctic spirit are graceful in
imagery tender in feeling and not too strongly
marked with that gloomy sentiment 30 many
young med-rn poets think it necessary 10 affect
when writing of Life The first sonnet, Protean
Love, is OF the Lest But it in curious that
where there is much merit there shonld also DO
found many metrical defccts No less than
four OF tie sonncts are marred by hating meas
Ore, ard the faults of character 80 obviOns
that it is difficult IN understand how they could
have been overlooked The defective sonnets are
those entitled The Coming Lies Gaerdon,'
"veiicd Woodlands" and Love and Life" and il
is odd that each Of the authors is responsible for
two Of these family productions. II il scarcely
necessary 20 remark that whatcver is worth doing
~ oil is worth doing we'll and that there can he
in this case no room for the excuse Of ignorance
the general chara of the competitions sufflci-
emily demonstrates
TONY, THr MAID. A Nsveietto By BLANCHE WILLIS
HOWARD. lGns, up 1875. Harper < BrstherS
"T"ny N merry httle taie. running al times
ibtO farce and preserving certain 3alntinsss in
its most daring freaks OF fun. and never dispicas
ing us by Its iDprObabilitios The sketch Of the
rue-hearted, honest synpatbstsc, little German
ladys maid, expert IN al the trcks OF her probes
sioD, and pwtsing them to shrewd use for